By Erin Michelle Herbert - Cardinal Gibbons HS
Photographer: COURTESY
The Sivore family, creators of a scholarship for Cardinal Gibbons football players, pose with representatives of the Fort Lauderdale high school, from left: Tim Sivore, McKenna Sivore, head football coach Matt DuBuc, Paula Sivore, athletic director Mike Morrill, and Tom Mahon, Cardinal Gibbons president.
FORT LAUDERDALE | Cardinal Gibbons High School has received a $100,000 donation from Tim and Paula Sivore, an alumni family, to fund the creation of the David and Billie Jean Kelly Scholarship, which will support the academic endeavors of student-athletes in the Cardinal Gibbons football program.
Through the scholarship, four members of the Cardinal Gibbons football team, who are in need of financial assistance, will receive $2,500 toward their tuition each year for the next 10 years.
This donation exemplifies the dedication of the Cardinal Gibbons community to developing the talents and abilities of scholar-athletes, who excel not only in their academic endeavors in the classroom but also in their athletic efforts at all levels of competition.
The Sivores are longtime members of the Cardinal Gibbons community and are dedicated supporters of the school’s athletic programs. Tim, a graduate of the Class of 1974, and Paula cite the strong bond among alumni and the family atmosphere of the school as key reasons for their family’s continued involvement in the Cardinal Gibbons community. Tim and Paula’s two sons, McKenna and Patrick, also graduated from Cardinal Gibbons in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
The Sivores created the scholarship in memory of their close family friends, David and Billie Jean Kelly. Throughout her lifetime, Billie Jean was an advocate for education and believed that all students should have access to a quality education that prepares them to attend college.
“Creating this scholarship in Billie’s honor means everything to me. [David and Billie Jean] were always there to support me," said Paula Sivore. "I feel so blessed to give back, and I know Billie would love it."
Approximately 40 percent of Cardinal Gibbons students benefit from the school’s robust financial aid program. Additional funds made available through scholarships created by generous donors provide supplemental financial support for many students.
“Cardinal Gibbons High School would like to express its gratitude to the Sivore family for their generous donation — a donation which is designed to assist our scholar-athletes. At Cardinal Gibbons, we value those students who excel on the field as well as in the classroom. These young men have a bright future, and it has been made even brighter by the Sivore family,” said Cardinal Gibbons President Tom Mahon.
